His entire career spanned from age 18 in 1942 to age 32 in 1956, a lot spent in the PCL. You can look up his record on his Baseball reference register page.
His transaction record barely covers the travels of Hall:
- Before 1942 Season: Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent.
- Before 1947 Season: Sent from the Detroit Tigers to Seattle (PCL) in an unknown transaction.
- October, 1948: Traded by Seattle (PCL) to the Boston Braves for a player to be named later, Al Lyons and Tommy Neill. The Boston Braves sent Heinz Becker (December, 1948) to Seattle (PCL) to complete the trade.
- October 14, 1952: Purchased by Seattle (PCL) from the Milwaukee Braves.
- December 1, 1952: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates from Seattle (PCL) in the 1952 rule 5 draft.
I found a trade to independent Seattle in mid-season of 1951. From the Ellensburg Daily Record of June 1, 1951:
“Bob Hall is coming back to pitch for the Seattle Rainiers.”
“The club management announced that Hall has been obtained
from the Boston Braves. He has been playing for Milwaukee in the American
Association.”
“To make room for Hall, Pitcher Ray Martin is being sent to
Atlanta.”
Martin had been a Brave before and had only been with Seattle for a half of a season. Atlanta was the [Boston] Braves AA club at the time.
Hall had been sent from Milwaukee to Atlanta, though he didn't play for Atlanta, before heading to Seattle again. We get a reason why from this April 1, 1952 article form the Milwaukee Journal:
"Pitcher Bob Hall, one of seven players turned over to the Brewers by the Braves last week, will not remain with the club, [Manager Charlie] Grimm revealed. Hall started the season with Milwaukee in 1951 but lasted only a month. He then joined Seattle, Highly temperamental, Hall is not the Grimm type of ballplayer, and the Brewer manager advised against rejoining the club. He will be sold or traded."
Harsh!
So Hall bounced beck to the Braves from Seattle somehow and they were looking for a way to get rid of him. From the Ellensburg Daily Record of April 8, 1952:
“The Boston Braves Monday transferred the contract of
Pitcher Bob Hall from the Milwaukee American Association farm to Sacramento of
the Pacific Coast League on a 24-hour recall basis”
Many articles mention Hall being "obtained" by Seattle from Sacramento during the 1952 season, but I have yet to nail down a date. Nevertheless, Hall was drafted by the Pirates for 1953.
And sold back to the Rainiers very quickly: the May 13, 1953 Beaver Valley Times:
"Catcher Eddie Fitz Gerald was sold to Washington of the American League, pitcher Forrest Main to Toronto of the International League, and pitcher Bob Hall to Seattle of the Pacific Coast League."
This was a roster-trimming move to cut from 28 to 25 at the time....but hold the Hall!!
From the Pittsburgh Press of May 18, 1953:
“Bob Hall, the 29-year-old righthand pitcher sold back by
the Bucs to Seattle of the Pacific Coast League on May 14, has been ordered
returned to the Bucs by Ford Frick, baseball commissioner.”
“Purchase of the pitcher by Seattle has been canceled by the
commissioner who, in a telegram to Branch Rickey of the Pirates, said the Bucs
had received a price in excess of that permitted by league rules.”
Oops. So Hall stayed with the Pirates for the whole season, posting a 3-12 mark and a 5.39 ERA. Thank you Mr. Frick.
Seattle's love affair with Bob Hall didn't end there. Hall didn't make the Pirates the next season and was farmed out to Hollywood in the PCL. Then, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of June 23. 1954:
“Bob Hall, righthanded pitcher who was sent to Hollywood of
the Pacific Coast League on a look-see basis, and who was returned to the
Pirates a few days ago, was sold to Seattle of the PCL last night,”
Hall would finish in Portland and San Diego in the next two years, but those transactions haven't been found...yet!
Ray Martin from http://baseball-birthdays.net
Regarding how he got to Seattle the first time: I found he was released by Detroit (or Buffalo) in June 1946 and had been signed by Seattle by July 8.
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